ARTICLES ABOUT KERALA CONGRESS BY DATE - PAGE 3

NEW DELHI: In a politically-loaded observation against Congress' 'highcommand culture', AICC member and son of ex-Union minister P Chidambaram , Karti Chidambaram , has underlined the need for Congress state units to start functioning with more autonomy by unshackling the tendency of AICC observers to control them. If the Tamil Nadu Congress unit were to become more proactive to keep pace with the dynamics of state politics, it can't anymore wait for Delhi's leadership to show the path ahead, Karti added.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking to cash in on the differences in CPI(M) over mode of probe against Finance Minister K M Mani in the "bar bribe" controversy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today accused Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan of changing track by pressing for a CBI inquiry after demanding a Vigilance probe. "It was Achuthanandan himself, as Leader of the Opposition who wrote a letter to the Director of Vigilance to hold an inquiry. It was on the basis of this letter that the government asked the Vigilance to look into the issue.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking to galvanise party cadres ahead of civic polls and highlighting various political and social issues, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V M Sudheeran will start over a month-long road campaign across the state from tomorrow. The road show has been named "Janapaksha Yatra" as it will highlight various issues faced by the society apart from political galvanisation of the organisation. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will flag off the campaign tomorrow and it will conclude in Thiruvananthapuram on December 9, after criss-crossing all districts of the state.

NEW DELHI: Shashi Tharoor , who was sacked as Congress spokesman in the wake of his effusive praise of Prime Minister, today attacked the Narendra Modi government for "ignoring the martyrdom" of Indira Gandhi, whose death anniversary falls tomorrow. "Disgraceful that Govt is ignoring the martyrdom of our only Prime Minister who was killed in office in the line of duty. Oct 31 forgotten?", Tharoor said on micro blogging site Twitter . The Modi government has declared 31 October as " Rashtriya Ekta Diwas " (National Unity Day)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sashi Tharoor's removal as Congress national spokesperson, at the behest of the Kerala unit of the party, appears to be a rare occasion when Congress leaders in the state buried their legendary factionalism and sought action as one single unit. The action has come after Tharoor accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite to join the Clean India campaign by saying he was honoured. And the moment this became public, various groups of the Congress party here went hammer and tongs against the two-time Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member, whose entry into electoral politics in 2009 had irked many hopefuls eyeing the prestigious seat.

KANNUR/NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's problems with the party refused to go away with the Kerala unit sending its complaint on his praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking disciplinary action against him. Incensed by Tharoor's remarks, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC president V M Sudheeran said that KPCC has prepared a report which has been been referred to AICC's disciplinary action committee. "It would not be proper on my part to comment on the outcome since the report is now under AICC's consideration," he told reporters in Kannur.

NEW DELHI: Facing flak from Congress for accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite to join Swachhta Abhiyan, former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today got support from party general secretary Digvijay Singh , who saw "nothing wrong" in the Kerala MP's actions. "I see nothing wrong in Shashi Tharoor accepting to be Brand Ambassador for Swachhta Abhiyan. It is Congress Party programme adopted by Modi," Singh said on Twitter. The party, however, said that the leaders were speaking for themselves.

By Nabeel Mohideen It doesn't take years of diplomatic experience at the United Nations to figure out that there was no other option for Shashi Tharoor but to accept Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat challenge. So for his state unit to attack him on this count is a matter of breathtaking hypocrisy, especially since the honourable MP's constituency could do with a thorough cleanup, and not just of its gutters and the garbage that piles up when no one's looking. Of course, this disapproval of what the man says and does is not new, given that the MP hasn't always been politic in word or deed.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM; Expressing resentment at party MP Shashi Tharoor praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Congress' Kerala unit today decided to submit a report to the party high command seeking suitable action in the matter. KPCC president VM Sudheeran said praises lavished on Modi repeatedly by Tharoor had hurt Congress and UDF workers who worked sincerely and tirelessly for his victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency for a second time. After interactions with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy , State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and other senior leaders, he said KPCC would submit a report to the high command on the issue reflecting the sentiments of the party's Kerala unit.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress in Kerala today warned Shashi Tharoor against praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the former Union Minister set the record straight holding that he is a "proud Congressman" and had not even remotely endorsed the "Hindutva agenda" of the BJP. Signalling that disciplinary action would be contemplated against Tharoor if he kept on lauding Modi's initiatives, KPCC Vice President M M Hassan said, "As a first...